GALLERY

What started as a joke between Marines in a San Diego recovery room in the spring ended Sunday, more than 4,000 miles later in Virginia, as double amputee Toran Gaal hand-cranked his bike past the Marine Corps Memorial, through a row of American flags into the arms of his wife and children for the first time in two months.

Several teams of veterans have been in the Uwharrie National Forest (UNF) since Thursday looking for Michael Kirkpatrick, a missing veteran from Fayetteville. Kirkpatrick, 29, is a combat veteran of the Iraq war and suffers from PTSD.

Living with fellow veterans in permanent supportive housing offers a healing camaraderie, an oasis of shared experience and empathy. “For some of them, being here is the first time they’ve felt connected to anyone since they got out of the military.”

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Stars and Stripes' veterans coverage

GALLERY

What started as a joke between Marines in a San Diego recovery room in the spring ended Sunday, more than 4,000 miles later in Virginia, as double amputee Toran Gaal hand-cranked his bike past the Marine Corps Memorial, through a row of American flags into the arms of his wife and children for the first time in two months.

More veterans news

The University of Phoenix, which runs an online college popular among military veterans, is under federal investigation for possible deceptive or unfair business practices, its parent company told shareholders.

It's been more than a year since his hearing for Social Security disability benefits, but Gulf War veteran Shawn McMurray still can't get the judge's words out of his mind. "It's tormented me since that day. He took my dignity away. I wasn't proud to be a veteran."